On the wedding day, the official ceremony was short and sweet. “We want our guests to feel like they are part of the wedding, and we want it to reflect our personality,” explains Christina. Instead of rows of chairs and a huge wedding party, tables and couches are scattered around the pool, above which a bridge leads to where the couple took their vows – though most guests end up standing with cocktails watching.
Steve’s college friend Steve Thomas officiated. “I’ve gotten to know him well and love him dearly,” Christina said. “He has a beautiful way of speaking and a warm demeanor. Sadly, he is still battling cancer so having him officiate means a lot to both of us.”
Meanwhile, Christina and Steven write their vows. “I knew Steven was a comedy writer and couldn’t help but laugh out loud, so I was going to hang out with him,” Christina said. “But public speaking isn’t my strong suit, so I was really nervous. Steven held my hand the whole time, though, and when I saw the smiling faces of all our friends and family, I relaxed a little and ended up with a joke. Started my vows. Luckily, it elicited a big laugh and from that moment on, everything worked magic. I’m so happy to express my feelings for Steven in a funny but meaningful way , because that’s the driving force of our relationship. We really try to make each other laugh every day.”
After the ceremony, guests headed to the upper lawn for cocktails, where a jazz The band was playing before finally heading to the reception area. Kristina and Steven want their food to be less stuffy, so they tend to serve up some laid-back personal favorites, including Jon & Vinny’s Chicken Parmesan.
At some point, in the middle of dinner, the band played Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” “I looked and there were tears in Steven’s eyes,” Christina recalled. “Then we got some really fun toasts from Steven’s grown kids and two of my best friends.” At the end of the meal, tequila shots were passed around for the guests to walk on dance floor.
“While everyone was dancing, my friend Keegan-Michael Key actually stepped up on stage and surprised us with a killer version of “Tennessee Whiskey,” ’” Steven recalled. “We wanted it to feel less like a formal wedding and more like a killer party — and it did. I had the best time of my life.”
In retrospect, it all worked out exactly as Christina and Steven envisioned it. “I love the band, the backyard, the food, my clothes, the cocktail hour and all the memories we made,” Christina said. “Our wedding was everything I ever wanted it to be. Everyone told me it would go by in a flash, and they were right. It was faster than I thought.”
